MP calls for miners’ benefit to be reinstated

6th August 2009'residents are concerned about the state of the road on Minsthorpe Lane, South Elmsall. They've noticed an increase of lorries and wagons driving up and down. Jon Trickett is going out to see them. 'Pictured: Jon Trickett with concerned residents.

Published:07:00Sunday 17 November 2013

Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett is calling for a concessionary fuel entitlement that benefited former mineworkers to be reinstated.

Miners who retired after 1994 when the coal industry was privatised, were given the concessionary fuel entitlement but this was stopped following the collapse of UK Coal earlier this year.

Mr Trickett is calling on Edward Davey MP, secretary of state for energy and climate change, to step in so that former workers do not lose out on the benefit.

The concessionary fuel was worth an average of £1,000 a year and was received by around 1,500 pensioners.

Mr Trickett has written to Mr Davey asking for a meeting to discuss the matter with himself and other Labour MPs who represent former mining constituencies.

He also held a meeting in Parliament last week with Chris Kitchen, general secretary of the national Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

Mr Trickett said: “The previous Conservative government privatised the coal industry and this government should accept responsibility for those who have been left without coal to heat their homes this winter.”